Types of Transport

The kit is needed to be transported to the disaster site so there is a few criteria that needs to be fulfilled if it is to perform the task required.

• It must be able to carry the entire crane kit (including the beam)
• It must be able to carry all four people to the site
• It must be able to traverse very rough terrain
• It must be able to reach every site that the crane is needed in case the crane needs to be transported over long distances.

Car

They are widely used and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. If the vehicle is of the right design then it can carry all the people required and should be able to traverse the environment with ease, especially if it has 4 wheel drive. Since most cars that would be chosen for this are of a moderate size and are quite nimble they should be able to reach most of the scenarios that it might come up against. The only drawback is that the internal storage space may not be sufficient to store the kit. The kit can be strapped to the top of the care but then there would be risk of damage since it is not protected by the vehicle.

Hovercraft

Hovercraft were designed so as all terrain vehicles; this is because the only thing between the vehicle and the ground is air so there is nothing it cannot traverse. The storage space and number of people which can be transported is dependant on the size and they range of single seated to ferry sized. The only downside to these vehicles is if the skirt of the hovercraft is damaged or one of the props powering the hover propellers is damaged then the vehicle would be useless and would take awhile to repair.

Van/Truck

Both modes of transport are big enough to store and transport the kit to wherever it needs, and both have sufficient engine power. The passenger space in both is not as could as the cars, however it would suffice. The only difference between the two is that in most cases the clearance between the ground and the chassis of the van is not a lot and may cause the vehicle to beach on a protruding bit of ground. The truck however has sufficient clearance and can reach most situations without duress.

Looking at the pros and cons of each mode of transport, the only one that full fills all the necessary requirements is the truck. So therefore the most obvious vehicle that should be encouraged to be used is such.

Transport Research

Probably the most common and most useful vehicles to use in an environment affected by a natural disaster would be a type of 4x4 pick up truck. However there are many different types to choose from.

Compact Pick up Trucks

This is the most common type of pick up truck on the marked, being that is the original type from when the design was first invented in the 60's. As it says in it's name the vehicle compact so it will be able to fit into situations that normal trucks wouldn't. However the bed is quite small and the cab only holds two people, however the other two people needed on the crane can sit in the bed anyhow.

Ford Ranger XLT 2009

Full-Size Pick up Trucks

This type of truck is designed to carry heavy loads and carry it over rough terrain. Most standard trucks of this nature can carry up to 450kg in the bed, and others can carry up to six times as much as that. The bed is usually designed to be around 1.2m x 2.4m in area. With rear wheel drive and 4 wheel drive as an optional, this truck can handle most terrain, especially if it is powered by a v10 engine. The largest type of this pick up truck are called "duallies" since they have 4 rear wheels, two on each side with an axle between. This would suit the requirements needed however the vehicle might be too cumbersome, and could get trapped in a tight squeeze.

Ford F-150 2007-2008 (extended)

Mid-Size Pick Up Trucks

This is the all rounder of the family. It has the advantages of being smaller than a full-size pick up truck and can carry the same load as one. It also has the option of having the bed in a longer, and wider style, the Toyota show has can come with a long bed 1.87m by 1.44m. The original models of these did not have the engine power needed to traverse extreme conditions, for example in an earthquake zone, however the newer models like the Toyota shown can come with a V6 engine. They have even more durability since they can also come with a double cab, which allows all four people to sit within the cab and not risk sitting in the bed with the gear.

Toyota Tacoma TRD 2001-2004 (extended cab)

Sports Utility Trucks (SUT)

The SUT is a cross breed between a Full-size pick up truck and a SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle). Where the cab is quite large so it can fit more people (up to 6 passengers) but it has a bed on the back designed for light or heavy loading. It would be very useful, however the design is a bit too much for what it is needed for and much would go to waste.

Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab

I believe looking at the choices the Mid-Size pick up truck is the best choices since it is the most adaptable out of all of them and even thought the bed is not as long as the full-size pick up it will suffice and it will be able to go into situations that it's larger brethren would not.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickup_truck#Types_of_pickups